Justin Fields has turned the corner for the Bears

Justin Fields' recent performances give Bears fans hope that the team finally has another franchise QB, perhaps its first since Sid Luckman in the 1940s. In his past four games, Fields has turned a corner.

Beginning in Week 7, the Bears began to call more designed runs for Fields, allowing him to use his speed. In the last month, he has accounted for 1,087 total yards, 13 touchdowns, two interceptions and no lost fumbles. 

In Week 9 against Miami, he won his first NFC Offensive Player of the Week award and set an NFL regular-season QB record with 178 yards rushing.

His recent performances are even more encouraging because of the opponents. Fields was the best player against the Patriots, the Cowboys (fourth in DVOA per Football Outsiders) and the AFC East-leading Miami Dolphins.

Over the past 14 seasons, the Bears have invested heavily at quarterback.

In 2009, they acquired Jay Cutler from Denver for a package centered on two first-round picks and paid him $98M over eight seasons. The investment yielded one division title and one playoff win. 

In 2017, the Bears made a draft day trade to select Mitch Trubisky with the No. 2 overall pick. He flamed out and is now a backup for the Steelers.

In 2021, the Bears moved up to take Fields, sending to the Giants their 20th and 164th overall pick in 2021 as well as the 2022 first- and fourth-round picks.

The first 16 games of Fields' career painted a gloomy outlook as he accounted for 3,337 total yards with 14 total touchdowns, 14 interceptions and six lost fumbles.

In that same span, Cutler had 3,839 total yards, 28 total touchdowns, 26 interceptions and one lost fumble. In his first 16 games, Trubisky had 3,503 total yards, 18 total touchdowns, 10 interceptions and five lost fumbles.

The addition of the designed QB runs and option threat have unlocked easier passing opportunities for Fields. That is reflected not just in Fields' statistics but of those for receivers Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet, who have combined for 32 catches, 381 yards receiving and six touchdown catches since Week 7.

GM Ryan Poles has used draft capital to acquire receivers to aid Fields' development. The Bears' front office and coaching staff are both high on Fields. 

"I'm loving what I'm seeing even more since I've been here," Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said of Fields on Monday, via the Bears' website.

For the first time in decades, Bears fans may be watching a franchise QB.